Elderly pair found dead in burned home; man charged with murder | Crime

ALBEMARLE, NC (WBTV) - A 27-year-old man is facing murder charges after deputies say they found the bodies of an elderly couple inside of a burned mobile home.

Deputies were called to a home along the 41400 block of Smiley Road after emergency crews responded to the address on a fire call around 6:30 a.m. Friday morning.

A source told WBTV foul play is suspected and that it appears Ernest "Bud" Hopkins, 85 and Thelma Britt, 77 died before the fire was set.

According to deputies, the mobile home, with an attached room, was fully involved and was extinguished by responding fire departments. 

The NC State Bureau of Investigation determined the fire to have been intentionally set and that the deaths of the Hopkins and Britt were not of natural causes.

Brandon Scott Coggins, 27, was charged with two counts of first degree murder and is being held without bond.  He is scheduled to be in court on May 14th.

The Stanly County Sheriff's Office says the investigation is ongoing.

Neighbors say a man lived with the couple but it's unclear how or if the man is related to Britt and Hopkins or if he is connected to the crime.

Obituaries for the couple say a private service will be held at a later date.

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